In Our Time, Ernest Hemingway, 1925

Hemingway’s 1925 collection of short stories contains the classic Big Two Hearted River, the two part tale of Nick Adams’ trout fishing trip in the Upper Peninsula—a story of male independence and self sufficiency.  Additional stories range from Smyrna to an Indian Camp (where his father the doctor delivers a baby born to a new widow), skiing in Germany, fishing in Italy, and on and on as Hemingway demonstrates his laconic skill and wide travels.  The Nick Adams story was used in the Harvard course as an example of clear, concise writing—terrific story.  Made me want to learn how to fly fish and camp out!